Washing-machine



M. J. NEWMAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1920 Patented May 31, 1921.

INVENTOR W 5 ATTORNEY M. J. NEWMAN,

WASHING MACHINE. APPHCATION ,FiLED JUNE 1. 1920.

Patented May 31.1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

J New 6? A'YTORNEY WITNESS;

M. J. NEWMAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APILICATI'ON FILED mm; 1,1920

ATTQRN EY wnN W UNITED STATES:

M RY J. NEWMAN, or FORTSMITH, AnKANsAs.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d May '31, 1921;

, Application filed June :1, 1920. v Serial N10. 385,682.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, MARY J.NEW-MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Smith, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in WVashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to washing machines and comprehends a construction wherein use is made of a corrugated cylinder rotatably mounted within the machine, and cooperating with a movable and flexible bottom which may be adjusted with respect to the cylinder as the occasion requires.

Thechief characteristic of the present in vention resides in the provision of means whereby this bottom may be properly and easily adjusted by means arranged exter orly of the machine, thus eliminating the burning or otherwise injuring the hands, while adjustingthe bottom.

Another object of impor'tance resides in the provision of resilient means for yieldably supporting the bottom in its adjusted position.

The nature and advantages of the invention will :be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover in its closed position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the cover removed. I

Fig. 4: is an end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional View therethrough.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the adjustable lever and its associated parts.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which one end of the bottom is supported within the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the receptacle having a hinged top or cover 11, which when in closed position affords the machine a substantially cylindrical configuration. The receptacle 10 is supported by the legs 12, whichare arranged in pairs at the opposite ends .of the machine, each pair being in divergent relation and secured to the adjacent end wall in any suitable .manner. Secured to the corresponding legs of the respective pairs, are horizontally disposedmembers 13 which project'beyond one .side of the receptacle 10, the'free ends of these members-having associated therewith floor engaging elements 14, thus providing a supporting structure for a shelfor the like 15 which is arranged at one side of the receptacle beneath the upper edge thereof, and is adapted to support an auxiliary receptacle (not shown) in which the clothes are placed when they are removed from the washing machine. y Arranged within the receptacle 10 is a flexible and movable bottom, preferably made up of a plurality of spaced slats 16, se cured by means of. the flexible elements 17 which extend across the underside of this bottom as shown. One of theend slats has its opposite ends cut away as at 18 to accommodate :itself to suitable brackets 19 arranged within the receptacle and secured to the front wall thereof in any suitable manner. The bottom is detachably associated with these brackets, so it can be removed from the receptacle if the occasion require. The flexible elements 17 extend beyond the opposite end slat of the bottom, and are passed over the upper edge of the receptacle between the space therebetween and the hinged edge of the cover 11. The free end of each flexible element is secured to a cross arm 20 which is secured to an operating lever 21, this lever being pivoted as at 22 upon the outside of the receptacle 10. The cross arm 20 is secured at a point approximately midway between its ends to the lever 21, so that when the lever is adjusted the pull upon the flexible element will be equalized. The cross arm 20 is further supported at its opposite ends by means of the elements 24 which are pivoted upon the outside of the receptacle 10 as at 25. The lever 21 carries a rack bar 26 with which a curved leaf spring 27 cooperates, in order to yieldably support the movable bottom in an adjusted position. This spring 27 is terminally secured to the outer side of the receptacle 10. and has its free end curved in the direction of the rack bar carried by the lever 21.

Manifestly, when the lever 21 is moved in a direction away from the receptacle 10, a pull is exerted upon the flexible element 17 thus" lifting the movable bottom into closer relation with the corrugated cylinder journaled within the receptacle. When properlyadjusted, the spring 27 is associated with the rack bar 26, and the said bottom is then yieldably supported in its given position. It is of course understood that the relation of the movable bottom with the corrugated cylinder largely depends upon the amount of clothes contained Within thereceptacle 10, but by reason of the construction and arrangement of parts as'disclosed, it'is obvious that this relation can be effected in quick order and without any possibility of burning the hands of the operator, which would probably occur if it were necessary to insert the hand within the receptacle 10 in order to eflect an adjustment of the movable bottom. The corrugated cylinder -30 as above stated is mounted for rotation between the end walls of the receptacle, the shaft 31 being extended through one of the end walls and terminating to provide a crank 32, with which a suitable handle 33 is connected. The bottom of the receptacle is provided with a valve controlled opening 35 through which water from the receptacle may be drained. In addition to the bottom being of a flexible character, it is also yield ably supported with respect to the cylinder 30, and consequently the clothes arranged within the receptacle can be washed; in quick order with little or no possibility of the cylinder or bottom tearing or otherwise injurying the clothes.

limit myself to the details herein shown and described, and that such changes maybe resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is: 5 A washing machine comprising a receptacle, an agitating element-rotatably mounted within the receptacle, means for operating said element, a flexible bottom arranged beneath said element and having one end pivotally mounted upon the receptacle, the opposite end of said bottom being free, flexi ble elements secured to the free end of the bottom and passed over the upper edge of the receptacle, a vertically disposed lever pivoted upon the outside of the receptacle, a cross arm carried by the lever and connected with the terminals of the flexible elements, arms depending from the lever and hingedly connected with the receptacle at their lower ends, said arms and lever being movable as a unit to adjust the bottom with respect to the agitating element, said lever having teeth, and aresilient element carried by the receptacle and cooperating with said teeth to hold the bottom in an adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MARY J. NEWMAN. 

